adjust suspension - harsh ride

[dreadnaught]

Hi All,

I imagine this won't be possible but does anyone know if a dealer is able to adjust the shocks/suspension for a slightly softer ride?
I'm in south london & am finding some of the speed bumps a real pain (in my old mazda estate you could fly over them, I now have to actually slow down...)
I know the Phev's carrying all the extra battery wieght so suspension has to accomodate that but I still feel it's a bit on the stiff side...

cheers

 

[maby]

I've never heard mention of any Mitsubishi supported adjustment to the suspension. In my youth, when we all thought that we could make beaten up old Escorts and Anglias go faster, it was easy to buy adjustable shocks to fit most cars - dunno if such things are still available. I'm guessing that you could run into all sorts of problems with invalidate warranties, invalidated insurance and failed MOTs!

 

[jthspace]

A quick Google search but I couldn't find Outlander specific adjustable shocks - that's not to say that they are not available. Probably a search with a Mitsubishi part number may find alternatives..

Do you drive solo? The suspension will be set up to maximise comfort with passenger + luggage so I expect you are experiencing the car being too lightly loaded.

We have a lot of speed "cushions" (square shaped) where we live so the PHEV will drive over them with little or no problem but I have driven over speed humps (across the whole carriageway) and, I agree, the ride is harsh even at low speeds.

As mentioned, warranty and insurance are a consideration.

Jeff

 

[jaapv]

I would contact these guys:

http://www.gazshocks.com/products

 

[Claymore]

Hi All,

I imagine this won't be possible but does anyone know if a dealer is able to adjust the shocks/suspension for a slightly softer ride?
I'm in south london & am finding some of the speed bumps a real pain (in my old mazda estate you could fly over them, I now have to actually slow down...)
I know the Phev's carrying all the extra battery wieght so suspension has to accomodate that but I still feel it's a bit on the stiff side...

cheers

Over a period of time driving manual transmission cars I noticed that if I 'trailed' the brakes (ie just put enough pressure on the pedal to lightly engage the brakes) just before the bump the car would ride over in a much more civilised manner.

In the PHEV now, although it sometimes requires a sort of symphony on the paddles, I do the same thing...usually B2 and then B0 on departure although I'm sure that delicate use of the brake pedal from B0 would work just as well....and you'll maybe regen a few hundred yards in the process.

JimB

 

[greendwarf]

As a fellow Sarf Lunduner, I'm with dreadnaught on this. Speed bumps should be capable of being driven over at 20mph (which we now have borough-wide in Lambeth, like Southwark ) with no impact on the car - which my Toyota Avensis would do. However, the PHEV often produces a very alarming (especially for nearby pedestrians) loud bang from the rear end which feels like the suspension is bottoming out too easily. I have found that this is mitigated by only hitting the bump with one rear wheel at a time. I suspect softening the ride would actually make this problem worse :?

BTW we also have "faux" speed bumps which are just the shape painted on the road. It can be amusing to watch strangers slowing down for them :lol:

 

[karl]

Maybe a stupid question but; How about the wheel pressure?

When I got the car from the dealer it was way too high, which really didn't help coping with speedbumps.

Try the lowest recommended setting and see if it helps...

 

[jaapv]

I have found that this is mitigated by only hitting the bump with one rear wheel at a time.

How do you do that? Take them on sideways in a four-wheel drift? :lol:

 

[MartinH]

I work on Öhlins Racing AB in Sweden, I can build you a cartridge kit, It will cost you a fortune, but with this kit you decide yourself what speed you want to take the speed bump, and you can compete in BTCC

 

[Tipper]

I work on Öhlins Racing AB in Sweden, I can build you a cartridge kit, It will cost you a fortune, but with this kit you decide yourself what speed you want to take the speed bump, and you can compete in BTCC

Now there's a challenge for Mitsubishi!

Reminds me of the Volvo T5(?)Estate that raced back in the 80s(?). Made quite a name for itself iirc.

Actually I find the PHEV handles better than my '07 E91 BMW...but then again I always thought there was something up with the rear suspension on that car right from day one even though more than one dealer could find nothing wrong. It definitely handled better with several bins of builders rubble in the back!

 

[Carnut]

I am predominantly a solo driver +25Kg hound in boot and I find the suspenders far too hard.
When I bought the car (ex Mitsu management) ALL tyres were at 30 p.s.i so I assumed rightly or wrongly that the dealer workshop staff had decreased the pressures all round by 5lb. Perhaps they have had complaints about hard ride.
After I inflated to correct pressure the ride was noticeably harsher. (but manufacturers set tyre pressures for a reason ) 'speed bumps' are a pain in the backside, specially with a bad back.
Probably the third reason on my list of why PHEV will be going as soon as the Kodiaq arrives.

 

[jaapv]

Maybe a stupid question but; How about the wheel pressure?

When I got the car from the dealer it was way too high, which really didn't help coping with speedbumps.

Try the lowest recommended setting and see if it helps...

Not a stupid question. I found that the car gets slightly unstable on longitudinal grooves when run at lower tyre pressures.

 

[dreadnaught]

Maybe a stupid question but; How about the wheel pressure?

When I got the car from the dealer it was way too high, which really didn't help coping with speedbumps.

Just checked my tyre pressures and they were all at 43PSI... now running 35 front & 38 rear.

 

[jaapv]

I am predominantly a solo driver +25Kg hound in boot and I find the suspenders far too hard.
When I bought the car (ex Mitsu management) ALL tyres were at 30 p.s.i so I assumed rightly or wrongly that the dealer workshop staff had decreased the pressures all round by 5lb. Perhaps they have had complaints about hard ride.
After I inflated to correct pressure the ride was noticeably harsher. (but manufacturers set tyre pressures for a reason ) 'speed bumps' are a pain in the backside, specially with a bad back.
Probably the third reason on my list of why PHEV will be going as soon as the Kodiaq arrives.

Tyre pressures are just an advice; they should be set to use and preference within reasonable limits. Car makers usually advise on the high side to reduce wear.

 

[Carnut]

Who determines in law what 'reasonable limits' are?
If you have a prang and your tyres are found to be very under or over manufacturers reccs your insurance company will do their best NOT to pay out and you may even be prosecuted. So where does the line lie twixt 'reasonable' & 'grossly'?

 

[jaapv]

In the UK the MOT regulations, which do not specify tyre pressure values:

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm


Which is logical, as the optimum pressure can vary by brand, user and road conditions.

 

[Tipper]

I had an insurance assessor inspect my car (not my PHEV fortunately) as it needed repair following the local window cleaner dropping his 'Carp Pole' across the roof whilst parked in my driveway. The assessor was more interested in whether the car was road legal at the time of the 'accident' with respect to tyre condition than the details of the repair itself! He also checked my insurance and road tax even though the claim was not mine.
I challenged him on why he was checking the tyres and he said all assessments start off with whether the tyres have enough tread and are appropriately pumped up. He did say that it was what was on the form he had to fill in. I pointed out that the claim wasn't even a motor claim, was on private land and was being paid by the window cleaner's public liability insurance but he carried on checking the legality of my car before inspecting the roof damage. Looking for every possibility of refusing a claim I suppose. :roll:

 

[Claymore]

............ Looking for every possibility of refusing a claim I suppose. :roll:

In the circumstances you describe absolutely nothing that he could have found would have made any difference to the validity of your claim, how could it?

JimB FCII

Chartered Insurer

 

[Claymore]

Who determines in law what 'reasonable limits' are?
If you have a prang and your tyres are found to be very under or over manufacturers reccs your insurance company will do their best NOT to pay out and you may even be prosecuted. So where does the line lie twixt 'reasonable' & 'grossly'?

The answer to this and many other similar questions lies in the test of 'reasonableness' which is in itself somewhat subjective.

The actual legal parlance refers to what the 'man on the Clapham Omnibus' might find reasonable.

If at the time of the incident you had been filmed from a helicopter and confirmed to have been travelling at warp speed 105 in your Outlander whilst relying solely on the wheel rims for adhesion to the road surface I suspect that the man on the Clapham Omnibus might suspect unreasonableness on your part.

It depends on the circumstances in other words and a few pounds pressure either way isn't going to be deemed 'unreasonable' and if some jobsworth tries to tell you otherwise take them on....just like all the jobsworths in every other industry.

JimB

 

[greendwarf]

The actual legal parlance refers to what the 'man on the Clapham Omnibus' might find reasonable.

As the "man on the Clapham Omnibus" (my post code is SW4) my services are available at very unreasonable rates :lol: